Chimaeras are a group of cartilaginous fish that branched off from sharks nearly 400 million years ago. They are found in various parts of the Atlantic Ocean, including off Nova Scotia, and feed on shrimp and crabs; they are harmless to humans. These fish are normally only found at a depth of several hundred meters so they are rarely caught.
According to CBC News Nova Scotia, this chimaera was caught accidentally while the trawler was fishing for redfish and cod. Tanner was able to snap a picture of the fish but it was already dead after being brought onto the boat, presumably from the pressure change caused by the drag nets.
As fishermen begin to fish deeper in the ocean, longnose or knifenose chimaeras are slowly starting to be caught more frequently. In Greek mythology, a chimaeara is a hybrid creature composed of the parts of more than one animal; a fitting name for this mysterious fish.
Thursday, March 24, 2016 - 12:00
Early in March, a fishing trawler off the coast of Newfoundland caught a very mysterious fish with a long pointy snout, bright green eyes, and ribbed fins that almost resemble bird wings. Scott Tanner, one of the fisherman onboard, believes the fish to be a longnose chimaera, a rare deep-water species.
Chimaeras are a group of cartilaginous fish that branched off from sharks nearly 400 million years ago. They are found in various parts of the Atlantic Ocean, including off Nova Scotia, and feed on shrimp and crabs; they are harmless to humans. These fish are normally only found at a depth of several hundred meters so they are rarely caught.
According to CBC News Nova Scotia, this chimaera was caught accidentally while the trawler was fishing for redfish and cod. Tanner was able to snap a picture of the fish but it was already dead after being brought onto the boat, presumably from the pressure change caused by the drag nets.
As fishermen begin to fish deeper in the ocean, longnose or knifenose chimaeras are slowly starting to be caught more frequently. In Greek mythology, a chimaeara is a hybrid creature composed of the parts of more than one animal; a fitting name for this mysterious fish.
Chimaeras are a group of cartilaginous fish that branched off from sharks nearly 400 million years ago. They are found in various parts of the Atlantic Ocean, including off Nova Scotia, and feed on shrimp and crabs; they are harmless to humans. These fish are normally only found at a depth of several hundred meters so they are rarely caught.
According to CBC News Nova Scotia, this chimaera was caught accidentally while the trawler was fishing for redfish and cod. Tanner was able to snap a picture of the fish but it was already dead after being brought onto the boat, presumably from the pressure change caused by the drag nets.
As fishermen begin to fish deeper in the ocean, longnose or knifenose chimaeras are slowly starting to be caught more frequently. In Greek mythology, a chimaeara is a hybrid creature composed of the parts of more than one animal; a fitting name for this mysterious fish.